How to Travel Cheap: Advice from Joshua Vignona
As a seasoned traveler, Joshua Vignona knows nothing as rewarding as trekking to unfamiliar terrain, meeting new people and standing at the threshold of international adventure.
But though travel has no shortage of perks, Josh Vignona understands it can also come with a hefty price tag. These costs not only tend to catch the unprepared off guard, but can also get downright prohibitive in a hurry, serving only to stand between you and booking the journey of a lifetime.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be rich to enjoy the benefits of world travel. As your budget-friendly travel guide, Vignona offers some helpful tips on how to travel the world cheap, maximize each new experience and unleash your inner globetrotter.
How to travel cheap (or free)
1. Research airfare early
3. Take advantage of travel rewards
4. Share and save
7. Learn where to splurge—and where not to
1. Research airfare early
Researching flights is a good first stop in your travel prep journey. Doing so in advance of your trip is key to saving the most money and getting things off on the right foot.
Once you’ve got a destination in mind, Joshua Vignona recommends Google Flights to get a better sense of what you could save on different arrival/departure dates. Because not every airline will be listed, you should supplement your search elsewhere. WhichBudget is generally a good choice to look and compare affordable tickets, though you may also have some luck on other popular platforms like TripAdvisor, Travelocity and CheapOair (to name a few).
And if you’re planning to travel across Europe on the cheap, you may consider European budget airlines listed on sites like Skyscanner and Kayak. Local airlines like Norwegian and Wizz Air tend to offer affordable deals on point-to-point travel across the continent.
However you do it, it’s crucial to devote adequate time to the flight research process. This is the only way to ensure you’ve booked the cheapest flight(s) possible.
2. Avoid checking bags
As Josh Vignona knows, extra bag fees can add up fast. Some airlines allow you to check bags for free, but many charge anywhere from $50 to $200 and more per bag depending on where you’re flying, taking a large but unnecessary chunk out of your travel budget.
While it may be tempting to pack that third pair of shoes or personalized tennis racket for your next visit to Barcelona, it can also lead to additional luggage and checked-baggage costs that could be better spent elsewhere.
Eliminating what you don’t need and boiling down your baggage to the essentials—toiletries, 2-3 changes of clothes, passports, travel info, etc.—helps reduce your travel load, putting far less strain on your back and your wallet.
3. Take advantage of travel rewards
Many airlines may now be switching from miles to spend-based loyalty programs, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less valuable when it comes to racking up travel rewards and earning free flights down the road.
Generally, airline rewards programs are free to sign up, while some offer thousands of bonus points just for opening up a rewards credit card. What’s more: travel rewards aren’t just limited to airlines, as many hotel chains now reward you with points and eventual stays based on what you purchase through their program partners.
Bank of America and Capital One offer two of the most notable rewards programs out there, though you have a number of choices for earning points and traveling on the cheap. Joshua Vignona notes that whichever you choose, be sure you’ve done your homework and have picked the plan most compatible with your travel and spending habits.
4. Share and save
The sharing economy can be a godsend when it comes to finding cheap accommodations, rideshare options, tour guides and great local cuisine. Going around traditional travel portals in favor of sharing sites not only helps you travel cheap, but can also put you in touch with locals with inside info on the best places to visit, have a drink and dine in their area—resources that can lead to a truly intimate and more rewarding travel experience.
Some of Josh Vignona’s favorite sites for saving money and personalizing the travel experience include:
- EatWith, a meal-sharing site that puts you in touch with local cooks, sign up for local dinner parties and select specialty meals to enjoy when you’re in town.
- BlaBlaCar, a popular rideshare option that can save you time and money traveling across much of Europe, Mexico, Turkey and India.
- Airbnb, the perfect middle ground for those looking to avoid the cost of hotels and overcrowded hostel accommodations.
Sharing websites provide a great outside-the-box solution when it comes to planning and saving on your next trip. When you keep your mind and options open, sharing sites can unlock doors and cut costs in ways you may have never envisioned.
For those who want to share but in need something a little more luxurious, Plum Guide provides a wide selection of high-quality vacation homes at popular destinations around the globe.
Watch this quick video to learn a little more on Josh Vignona:
5. Go Couchsurfing
Started in 2004, Couchsurfing has forever changed how travelers locate and reserve places to stay around the world.
Now one of the premier hospitality networks available, Couchsurfing puts you touch with millions of hosts in popular destinations across the globe—locals who have opened up their homes and are offering free places to stay, sleep and gain a unique, intimate perspective on the surrounding area.
As Joshua Vignona knows, joining the Couchsurfing network provides you instant access to free accommodations (rooms, couches, floors, etc.), as well as opportunities to connect with locals and fellow travelers for anything from meals and coffee to museum visits and a variety of other activities.
Couchsurfing is not only a great way to reduce costs and travel on a budget, but also to meet up with potential travel companions and share the experience with those of similar interests.
A few other hospitality sites worth looking into include:
6. Do some farming (no, really!)
Want to really see your destination in-depth while saving some of your hard-earned dough? WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) offers a golden opportunity to see the world cheaply, make new friends and enjoy world travel in a truly innovative way.
WWOOF provides free room and board in exchange for working on a local farm, as well as the opportunity to meet like-minded travelers and share in the experience of local food production. While the cost of getting there is on you, WWOOF can be a wonderful chance to engage in ethical volunteering, learn the local landscape and develop relationships that last a lifetime.
Insert Image: (Joshua Vignona pictured next to the Farmer’s Branch Texas Ampersand sign)
If you’re seeking a genuinely unique way to travel the world cheap or on a budget—and to work and live alongside interesting people—the WWOOF program may be for you.
7. Learn where to splurge—and where not to
For Joshua Vignona, travel is all about the adventure. And when you’re trying to travel the world cheap, free or with no money, it’s best to focus on the value of that experience rather than on those things you can do without, developing a mindset that deprioritizes the frills in favor of what’s in front of you.
When adventure is what you’re after, everything else—from hotel rooms and meals to packing and flying cheap—is negotiable. Viewing the experience as the ultimate prize makes choices on where to stay, what to eat and which airline to fly a lot less burdensome.
Does sleeping on someone’s couch really matter when most of your time will be spent sightseeing? Can you make several meals at home to avoid the costs of eating out? Will a budget airline get you to your destination just the same as a big-name flyer would?
Of course, you don’t have to avoid frills altogether. But if you’re goal is traveling Europe, the USA or the world on the cheap, learning where to splurge and where not to is the best way to maximize your travel budget.
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